"Why do I trade, buy, collect and LOVE Strollers?

1. It’s my Hobby. A hobby is defined as: a pursuit outside one's regular occupation engaged in especially for relaxation. For me, strollers are fun, and talking about them with other like-minded enthusiasts is enjoyable. Some may claim it is not practical - but most hobbies aren’t. Others may not understand - but they don’t have to- it is for ME, not them.

2. It's about convenience. When you spend a lot of time with an object, you want it to be easy to use and not add additional stress to your already chaotic life. Different strollers perform better in different situations. My husband has 5 fishing reels because it's nice to have just the right reel for the right fishing situation. Could he still fish if he only had one reel? Of course, but it would probably not be as effective, easy or fun..

3. It's about change. I, for one, enjoy having something fresh and new. It’s no different than someone who trades their car in every year because they want that new smell, or fall in love with the clean lines of the newest model. Except trading strollers is a lot less expensive than trading cars!

4. It’s about the "thrill of the hunt". Much like a coin collector is always searching for that rare find, scoring a hard-to-find vintage stroller model in mint condition (or not so mint and restoring it) is a challenge and exciting!

5. It’s about NEED. Your lifestyle may change due to a move. If you once lived in the heart of the city and now have moved to a rural area, you may need a different stroller. Just try pushing those small wheels on your Maclaren (that you once coveted in your city life for it’s light weight and carry strap) over the gravel on a rural dirt road. It’s not pretty. Also, your needs will change over time as your kids grow. Just as you might buy a minivan when the baby is born and then switch to a sports car as the child gets older. The same thing applies with strollers - a double when #2 comes, a single again when #1 is independent, etc etc.

I guess maybe people tend to be more shocked about stroller trading or collecting because it is not as common as other hobbies. Or maybe it's because it's a more in-your-face-hard-to-hide kind of collection (especially when trying to make DH's understand!). Either way, I still find it offensive and irritating when people scoff at my newest stroller acquisition, yet I wouldn't dream of making fun of their most recent purse or bag they purchased to add to their growing stash! My "collection", just like other collectibles, retains it value rather well if I take care of them!

As for me, I am nearing the SIXTY mark - yep, 60 strollers in 2.5 years (and I'm a lightweight compared to some!). I currently own 8. Do people think I am crazy? My best friend does! But my best friend also has 200 beanie babies........"

for allowing me to publish the post she wrote on the BBB Board answering a poster's question on why so many BBB members have multiple strollers!  GREAT post!